Cravings and Control

"More," I demanded, pushing the empty plate toward the servant. "The spiced venison. And those honeyed figs. Now."

My stomach growled loudly even though I’d already eaten twice as much as usual. The child kicked hard in response, like it approved. The glow under my skin pulsed brighter for a moment, feeding on the fresh rush of stolen power still humming in my veins.

The servant bowed quickly. "Yes, Omega. The king ordered us to give you whatever you ask for."

I leaned back in the chair, one hand rubbing my growing belly. Fatigue pulled at my limbs like heavy chains, but underneath it crackled unnatural energy. I could hear the guards breathing outside the door. Smell the faint scent of Vesperian from three chambers away. My body was changing too fast.

The door opened and Vesperian strode in, still dressed in his formal robes from whatever meeting had kept him away all morning. His eyes scanned me immediately, lingering on the way I cradled my stomach.

"You’re eating again," he said, voice low with satisfaction. He dismissed the servant with a flick of his hand and took the chair across from me. "Good. The healer says the cravings mean the child is drawing more strength."

I glared at him even as another wave of hunger hit. "I hate this. One minute I want to sleep for a week, the next I feel like I could tear through walls. And don’t pretend you’re doing this out of kindness. You just want your weapon healthy."

Vesperian reached across the table and caught my wrist, thumb stroking over my pulse. "I want both of you healthy." He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. "Eat. I’ll stay until you’re done."

I wanted to snap at him, but the bond purred at his attention. When the new plate arrived, I attacked it like I hadn’t eaten in days. Vesperian watched every bite, occasionally pushing more food toward me or refilling my water.

"You’re hovering," I muttered between bites of fig. "I thought kings had better things to do than play nursemaid."

"I do." He leaned back, golden eyes intense. "But right now, nothing matters more than this. Than you."

The child did a full roll inside me, strong enough that Vesperian’s gaze dropped to my belly. A small smile tugged at his mouth, the kind that made my stupid heart stutter.

"Feel that?" I whispered before I could stop myself. "He’s been doing that all morning."

Vesperian stood and moved behind my chair. His large hands settled on my shoulders first, then slid down to rest over my belly. The warmth of his palms made the glow brighten. The baby kicked again, right against his hand.

"He knows his father," Vesperian murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

I hated how safe it felt. How right.

~~~~

Later that evening, after another round of nutrient tea that left me buzzing with energy, Vesperian returned. He didn’t order me to the bed this time. He simply held out his hand.

"Come here, Eli."

I took it. My body moved toward him before my mind caught up. We ended up on the bed, but slower than usual. He stripped me carefully, hands lingering on every new curve of my pregnancy. When he settled between my legs, I expected the usual rough claiming.

Instead, he kissed me deep and slow, tongue stroking mine until I was whimpering into his mouth.

"Alpha..." I breathed, hands sliding up his chest.

But this time it wasn’t the heat or the bond pushing me. Not completely. I wanted him. Really wanted him. The realization hit hard as I pulled him closer, legs wrapping around his waist, guiding him inside me with my own hands.

Vesperian froze for a second, eyes widening as he sank into me. "Eli?"

I didn’t answer with words. I just rocked up to meet him, chasing the feeling, the connection. Not because my body demanded it. Because I did.

He groaned, thrusting deeper, but gentler than before. "That’s it. Take what you need."

I clung to him, nails digging into his back, moving with him like I couldn’t get close enough. The child fluttered between us. The draining magic stirred but I barely noticed. For once, it wasn’t about revenge. It was about him. About us.

Vesperian’s knot swelled and locked us together. Pleasure rolled through me in long, devastating waves. I buried my face in his neck, breathing him in as he filled me.

"Good boy," he murmured against my ear, voice rough with praise and possession. "So perfect for me. Carrying my child. Taking my knot like you were made for it."

His words should have warmed me. Instead, as the haze of pleasure started to clear, I caught it, the brief calculating glint in his golden eyes when he thought I wasn’t looking. The same look he’d had in the throne room when he first decided to keep me.

My stomach twisted even as I stayed locked on his knot, safe in his arms.

Every gentle touch, every careful meal, every soft word... was it still just strategy? Was I still just the perfect vessel he’d spent decades engineering?

I pressed closer to him anyway, letting the bond pull me under, terrified of how little I cared about the answer anymore.